Recently, Emma Raducanu expressed how her new coach, Francisco Roig, is teaching her to embrace imperfection following a remarkable straight-sets victory in the opening round of the US Open in 2025.
Raducanu achieved her quickest professional win by dominating Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara with a score of 6-1, 6-2 in just 62 minutes. She is set to face another qualifier, Janice Tjen, in the next round on Wednesday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This 22-year-old athlete has spent most of the season without a dedicated coach but recently signed with Roig, who previously coached Rafael Nadal, after a trial period last month. This decision came after her disappointing loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the Wimbledon third round.
Despite narrowly falling to world No. 1 Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open, Raducanu demonstrated noticeable improvements in her aggression and serving accuracy, which she showcased in her dominant performance against Shibahara.
“I’m truly enjoying working with Francisco. He’s an amazing person both on and off the court,” Raducanu shared with Sky Sports Tennis. “He brings a sense of fun and calm that reassures me that all the effort we’re investing will yield results over time. I’ve struggled with being overly critical, and he has helped me to let go of that perfectionist mindset.”
Roig’s guidance is notable, as his instructions can often be overheard by the broadcast microphones during matches. However, Raducanu admitted that with the crowd’s noise, she sometimes has to lip-read his cues. “It’s tough to catch everything he says, but I focus on what I feel I need at the moment. Especially during matches, I try to stay grounded and focused on my game,” she explained.
Raducanu Reflects on Trusting Roig
Raducanu’s coaching journey has attracted significant attention after several changes over the years. Her initial coach, Nigel Sears, departed following her impressive run to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2021. Later choices included Andrew Richardson, who guided her to a memorable US Open victory but didn’t renew his contract, and several brief coaching stints with Torben Beltz and Dimitri Tursunov.
Most recently, Sebastian Sachs briefly coached Raducanu before reuniting with Nick Cavaday, who returned to mentor her during the 2023 season. Following Wimbledon, Raducanu’s focus shifted to working with Roig, and they were back on the practice court immediately after her first-round success.
“I’ve placed a lot of trust in Francisco during our practice sessions,” Raducanu noted. “It’s satisfying to see my continuous improvement, and I’m motivated by the progress I make each day, not just by the tour matches.”
Expert Opinions on Raducanu’s Progress
Sky Sports analyst Tim Henman commented, “Emma is doing everything right—she appears fitter, stronger, and faster, which is why she’s managing to defeat quality opponents. There was once an element of surprise in her victories, but now it’s clear she’s competing consistently at a high level.” He expressed hope for Raducanu’s continued success in the future.
In addition, Sky Sports’ Naomi Broady remarked, “Emma has shared how hard her new coach pushes her in practice, but she enjoys that intensity. It’s refreshing to see her back to form, balancing serious training with moments of laughter during their sessions.”
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